Helicopter Parenting Test
Parents should always intervene to ensure their children receive what they're entitled to, regardless of how old the child is.
I'm fully aware of every homework task and due date my child has.
I feel it's crucial to always know my child's exact location.
My child and I share equal responsibility in building the most impressive college application possible.
I monitor all my child's academic scores through online platforms and intend to continue doing so.
Whenever possible, I take steps to prevent my child from facing any kind of failure or difficulty.
It matters a great deal to me that my child develops a strong sense of independence.
When my child struggles significantly with schoolwork, I sometimes complete portions of it myself.
Parents ought to remove any hurdles that might stand in the way of their child's achievements.
If my child has conflicts with peers, I contact the other child's parents to resolve the situation.
I want my children to avoid the mistakes and disappointments I encountered during my own childhood.
I don't hesitate to approach a teacher if I believe my child deserved a better grade.
Knowing who my child spends time with is always important to me.
How well my child performs reflects directly on my abilities as a parent.
Should my child face issues with a college professor, I would call the dean to discuss it.
I've contacted schools or sports leagues to ask for my child to be assigned to a particular teacher or coach.
My child must update me frequently when they're out during evening hours.
I need to be informed about my child's activities at every moment.
Helping my child overcome challenges makes me feel like I'm fulfilling my parental role effectively.
I doubt my child would achieve academic success without my active participation.
20 questions remaining
What You Should Know
- Helicopter parents may watch their kids closely and be ready to step in at any time to fix any problems that come up. Such constant supervision can make it hard for a child to be independent and believe in themselves.
- Adults who are anxious or want everything to be perfect may be more likely to overparent. Helping kids with their problems may make them feel better about who they are and how well they are doing as parents. Adults who felt ignored or unloved as kids may also hover over their kids to make sure they get the parenting they didn't get.
- Parents may worry that their kids will be emotionally hurt if they fail a test or lose a friend, but experts say that these things are important lessons for kids.
- Kids who have helicopter parents may not be as good at handling their feelings. Research indicates that during college, they may have a higher propensity for depression and a tendency to depend on medication for anxiety or depression due to their upbringing that emphasized resisting discomfort.
- There are some good things about helicopter parenting. Kids whose parents are very involved may feel loved and supported, and they may be more likely to ask for help when they need it.
- Like helicopter parents, lawnmower or snowplow parents try to clear the way for their kids by getting rid of any possible problems before they even get there. However, this may stop kids from building confidence or learning how to solve problems.
Do Something Now
Let them do the work and figure it out. Tell kids to do tasks that are right for their age on their own, and don't jump in to help even if they don't do it perfectly.
Talk about what they learned. Letting kids ask their own questions and voice their concerns after a setback and praising their effort and self-awareness can help them feel better about themselves.
Talk to a mental health professional. A therapist can help you reach your parenting goals or talk to you about things that are stressing you out in your family.
